CCRI Faculty Focus

Summer 2012

Greetings from VP Lela Morgan...

It’s hard to believe that summer is well under way and the July 4 holiday is almost upon us. Whether you are teaching or not, I hope you are finding time to relax and do the things you enjoy most.

I appreciate that you are taking time during your summer to read Faculty Focus. We try to cover a lot of material in a brief format and provide links to more in-depth information so I hope you are finding it useful. This issue includes updates from IT, distance learning, the library and so much more.

It also shares the very important news that Dr. Lois Wims will be joining my office as the new dean of arts, humanities and social sciences in mid-July. I am very excited to welcome her to CCRI. If you come to campus this summer, please try to stop by to introduce yourself, as I know she is looking forward to meeting and working with everyone here.

Please remember, the information in this newsletter is compiled to help you, so if you feel that a particular topic is missing, please let my office know. This is only our second edition so would appreciate any input you may have about Faculty Focus.

AHSS Dean Announced

Dr. Lois Wims has accepted the position of dean of arts, humanities and social sciences at the Community College of Rhode Island. As of July 16, Dean Wims' office will be located on the Knight campus room 4222.

Dr. Wims was formerly dean of social and behavioral sciences at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

She has worked in higher education for more than 27 years and has been a tenured faculty member, senate president, department chair and an American Council on Education Fellow in higher education administration while with Salve Regina University in Newport. She also previously served as associate dean of arts and sciences at the University of South Alabama. She has teaching experience in two- and four-year institutions, graduate-level courses, the freshman seminar and wholly online delivery systems. She holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Rhode Island, a master’s in criminal justice from Salve Regina and a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Bryant College.

Information Technology

World Wide Website Policy:

The purpose of the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) website is to provide a medium for access to accurate and timely information regarding the community college’s mission, its faculty, staff and students, its services and programs, and college-related events.

Faculty Technology Day

The Information Technology Department invites faculty to attend the fall Faculty Technology Day from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the Knight Campus in Warwick. Faculty technology leaders and Information Technology staff will spotlight technologies and demonstrate resources for a meaningful integration of technology in your teaching practices.

IT Summer Workshop Series:

Getting Started with Blackboard Learning Management System

July 17 : 10 a.m. to Noon, Flanagan 3638

August 28 : 10 a.m. to Noon, Knight 2114

Updating and maintaining your Blackboard Courses

July 17 :1 to 3 p.m., Flanagan 3638

August 28 : 1 to 3 p.m., Knight 2114

Working with Videos and Multimedia-Rich PowerPoint Files

July 18 : 10 to noon, Knight 2108

August 29 : 10 to noon, Knight 2106

Create a Self-Produced Video Introduction and Video Tutorials for Courses

July 18 : 1 to 3 p.m., Knight 2108

August 29 : 1 to 3p.m., Knight 2106

Learn the Essentials for Creating and Delivering Online Assessments

July 19 : 10 to noon, Flanagan 3638

August 30 : 10 to noon, Knight 2114

Explore the Blackboard Grade Center and Customize It to Fit Your Needs

July 19 : 1 to 3 p.m., Flanagan 3638

August 30 : 1 to 3p.m., Knight 2114

Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC)

ATAC membership has voted to accept Turning Technologies clickers as the standard student response system (SRS) at CCRI effective May 2012. CCRI's IT department will continue to support the existing iClicker SRS and these units remain available for loan from IT. Future faculty requests for new acquisitions of SRS will be directed to Turning Technologies systems.

Distance Learning (DL)

If you are teaching a distance learning section (600 or 700) this fall and you are not on the DL mailing list or you do not have access to the DL Faculty Forum in Blackboard, please e-mail Maggie Burke to be added to the list and the forum. The forum contains helpful documents for DL faculty (sample start-up letter, syllabus template, course evaluation, and semester checklist, among others). If you're on the mailing list, Maggie regularly will regularly send you e-mail reminders throughout the semester to help you with DL policy and keep your course running smoothly.

Advisory Committee

The Distance Learning Advisory Committee created and is responsible for maintaining the Distance Learning Policy. In addition, the DL Advisory Committee, together with the distance education faculty coordinator, supports departments' distance learning courses through informational materials and coordinating with nonacademic departments to keep DL courses running smoothly.

DL Faculty Pedagogy Course to be Offered Again

The five week Distance Learning Pedagogy course ran successfully during the summer and will be offered again in the fall (dates TBD). Limited seating for CCRI adjunct and full-time professors will be available with first preference given to those teaching full time and scheduled to offer a DL course in the spring semester. Experienced DL faculty are encouraged to take the course. You will be awarded CEUs and a certificate upon completion. For additional information, please contact Maggie Burke.

Teaching Online

The Office of Academic Affairs has purchased several copies of Teaching Online by Ko & Rossen. You are welcome to stop by Knight Campus Room 4228 to sign out a copy for a two-week period. In addition, CITLA has two copies to lend. Read more »

CCRI Library Assists Faculty with Skills Instruction

Librarians at each campus can provide one hour basic library skills instruction. Interested classroom instructors can sign up online or call the reference desk.

Library faculty are available to assist classroom instructors in crafting meaningful critical thinking or literacy assignments. Read more »

Reference desks:

Flanagan : 401-333-7054

Knight : 401-825-2215

Liston : 401-455-6150

Newport : 401-851-1698

Leadership Rhode Island

Leadership Rhode Island is accepting nominations for its Fall 2012 Leadership Rhode Island College Program. This semester-long experimental program is available to emerging student leaders providing insight into the inner-workings of Rhode Island's for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors, exploring how the sectors are intertwined. Professors are encouraged to nominate interested students.

CCRI Office of Enrollment Services

The Office of Enrollment Services and Bursar have begun their summer session hours. Learn more »

Adjunct Faculty

NEASC News

NEASC Survey - The NEASC co-chairs have compiled a survey which will be electronically distributed to all faculty at the beginning of the fall 2012 semester. The data garnered from this survey help to improve CCRI policies and institutional planning. When you receive the link for the survey, please take a few minutes out of your busy day to complete and submit.

CITLA

Center for Innovative Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Introducing the New Coordinator

Warm Greetings! My name is Karen Griscom, the new faculty coordinator for CITLA.

“My vision for CITLA includes a commitment to offering interesting informal discussions about teaching, learning and assessment; dedication to creating workshops-both formal and informal-for faculty to learn and improve critical skills; support for professional development; and inspiration through hosting outstanding educators and educational scholars. Inspiration is that magical breath of wind that carries us all forward toward becoming our best selves as educators, proponents of outstanding education, and as human beings. CITLA is a marvelous vehicle to offer our faculty and staff that energy to sail forward and-perhaps-to change course as we try new and exciting techniques in the classroom or expand our understanding about an issue.”

Upcoming CITLA Events

In fall 2012, CITLA will offer a series of five webinars on the topic of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Watch the Crier and check the CITLA website for times and venues and please plan to join us for as many as you can. The webinars are entitled:

You Want Me to Do What???

FERPA and Confidentiality

Students with Asperger Syndrome

Access to Technology

ADA Revised Regulations

Teaching Tip: The Two Levels of Expectations

“A master can tell you what he thinks of you. A teacher though awakens your own expectations.”

~Patricia Neal

A good teacher provides two levels of expectations. One is for the expectations of the program, course or assignment. Letting students know exactly what you expect from them gives them a roadmap for the item (program, course or assignment) and if followed, should navigate them towards a successful goal. This is accomplished in a letter (such as the syllabus), in reviews during seminars and on paper with feedback. My best advice for successful student papers is to provide a rubric of what the assignment calls for handed to the students at the same time the assignment is assigned.

The other level of expectations is to motivate the student(s) so that he or she aspires for the best. With guidance, encouragement and constructive feedback, the teacher helps the student to realize his or her potential and, hopefully, limitless possibilities. My best advice goes beyond the "sandwich method" by providing additional resources or suggestions for further study and challenging/inspiring the student to stretch themselves.

A good resource and support for the idea that setting out expectations is one key to student success can be found in Vincent Tinto's (February 2011).

CWCE to offer free motorcycle class for CCRI employees

CWCE will run a free motorcycle training day for licensed riders who are CCRI employees from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 22, at the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln. For information, contact Anthony Ricci, coordinator of the Motorcycle Safety Program, at Ext. 2090 or ridesafe@ccri.edu. Also helping with the coordination of this effort is Bob Considine at rconsidine@ccri.edu. For more information about the course and registration forms, visit the Rhode Island Rider Education Program website.

Academic Divisions News

Arts Humanities and Social Sciences

Faculty Films selected for Tribeca Festival:

Two films by Community College of Rhode Island Art Professor Nancy Wyllie were selected for film festivals this winter, including the prestigious Tribeca Cinemas Video Art and Experimental Film Festival in New York City.Read More »

Rhode Island School of Design: Once again we have purchased an institution-wide museum membership for all CCRI faculty, staff and students Read More »